Alaves defender Rafa Marin says he's ready to face his parent club Real Madrid tonight.

Marin is on-loan with Alaves this season.

He told Marca: "The decision was made with my agents and the club, but I did have some small words with Davide (Ancelotti) that helped me and I thank him to this day. He helped me get out, to gain experience abroad and well, and whatever has to happen in the future, let it happen."

Asked if he feels he can make it at Real, Marin also said: "That is very difficult, in Madrid there are the best and what is sought with the loan is to improve as a footballer, to gain that experience that I did not yet have and still do not have because, well, the level of LaLiga and the players is very high and getting higher and higher.

"You have to work hard, improve physically and mentally and get as tough as you can."